Combined lamp and loudspeaker



Feb. 9, 1960 J. MESSEAS, JR

COMBINED LAMP AND LOUDSPEAKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1955 INVENTOR Jzmes flesseas J7.

BY .WVW

A'ITORNEYS Feb. --'9, 1960 J. MESSEAS, JR 2,924,661

COMBINED LAMP AND LOUDSPEAKER Filed March so, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent COMBINED LAMP AND LOUDSPEAKER James Messeas, Jr., Vancouver, Wash.

Application March 30, 1955, Serial No. 497,847

3 Claims. (Cl. 179-1) This invention relates to electrical apparatus and fixtures, and more particularly to a combined lamp and loudspeaker.

Television sets have been supplied to the public in great numbers. In most homes when the television set is turned on, the room is usually not available for any other type of activity because of the sound emanating from the set itself. In addition it is virtually impossible to read in a room in which the television set is turned on for the reason that the bright lights necessary for reading impair the sharpness of the picture in the set itself. This is particularly disadvantageous in smaller homes wherein there is no room to partake of any other activity when the television set is turned on. In restaurants and other places of public assembly which have television sets, persons who do not desire to listen to a particular program on television are often virtually required to do so when the set is turned on.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combined lamp and loudspeaker in which the sound from the television set may be heard only in the immediate vicinity thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combined lamp and loudspeaker which is adjustable to'change the direction of the sound or light.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined lamp and loudspeaker remote from the television set itself and yet be able to control the main loudspeaker in the television set as well as the loudspeaker in the combination lamp and loudspeaker.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combined lamp and loudspeaker emanating from the same base in which the lamp and loudspeaker may be adjusted independent of each other to change the direction of sound or light.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro vide a combined lamp and loudspeaker which is very attractive in appearance and adds to the decorativeness of the home or other place Where it is used.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a combined lamp and loudspeaker having' all the desired advantages which is nevertheless simple to manufacture and easy to construct.

Other objects and advantages are set forth in detail in the accompanying specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the combined lamp and loudspeaker of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial section of the combined lamp and loudspeaker made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the circuit to the combined lamp and loudspeaker in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a section of a modified form of the combine lamp and loudspeaker of the present invention;

" 2,924,661 C Patented Feb. 9, 1960 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another modified form of the combined lamp and loudspeaker of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of still another modified 5 form of the combined lamp and loudspeaker of the prescut invention; and

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the circuit to the combined lamp and loudspeaker in accordance with the modification shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown the combined lamp and loudspeaker unit 10 which consists of a casing 11 preferably bowl-shaped and made of any suitable material. Disposed within the casing 11 and towards the rear thereof there is provided a speaker 12 having the sound projecting portion thereof facing the outlet of the combined unit.

In the preferred form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, another casing or shade 13 is disposed within the shade 11 with the forward portion of the shade 13 projecting beyond the limits of the casing 11. The shade 13 is supported within the casing 11 by means of supporting bracket 14. Inthis form the brackets comprise sleeves secured to the casing 13. While this type of support has been shown, it will be realized that any other suitable supporting means may be used. The shade 13 is also connected to the front portion of the speaker by means of brackets 15. This arrangement provides a more efficient shading of the light and also assists in amplifyin the sound of the speaker.

The speaker 12 is connected to an outlet not shown, by wires 16, 17 and 18 which lead out through cable 19. As shown, a bulb 20 is disposed within the shade 13.

The socket 21 for the bulb is carried by the supporting bracket 22 attached to the brackets 15 and the shade 13. The brackets 15 extend forwardly to the brackets 14, and in effect form a continuation thereof. Further, the bracket 22 in effect forms a downwardly extending continuation of the brackets 14 and 15. Thus the upper brackets 14, upper bracket 15, bracket 22, lower bracket 15 and lower bracket 14 as viewed in Figure 2, form one continuous structure supported across the shade. The socket for the bulb is supported intermediate the ends of this bracket structure and the speaker 12 is likewise supported intermediate the ends of this bracket structure in spaced relationship to the side walls of the shade. The bracket, bulb, socket and speaker form a single insertable unit supported within the shade 11.

In the form illustrated in Figure 2 the additional shade 13 projects forwardly of and is supported by the bracket structure and the bulb socket and bulb are within this second or additional shade. Electrical connection to the bulb is made by means of wires 23 and 24. As shown, the casing 11 is supported by a flexible support 25 which obviously may be adjusted to various positions at the desire of the user.

The flexible support 25 is carried by a base 26. The base 26 is provided with switches 27 and 28 and control units 29 and 30 for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

.The wires 23 and 24 and the wires 16, 17 and 18 are contained within the flexible support 25 with suitable connections being made to the switches 27 and 28 in the control units. Preferably at the rear of the base 26 the wires 23, 24 and 16, 17 and 18 are led from the unit to the appropriate connections to the main set and outlet through cables 24a and 19 respectively.

Referring to the wiring diagram, it will be noted that electrical current is supplied from a normal source (not shown). When the switch 27 is closed, the current will pass to the speaker 12 in the combined lamp and speaker unit. In this arrangement the circuit is also made back 3 to the main speaker 33. With the switch 27 open, it will be noted that both the main speaker and the speaker in the combined lamp and loudspeaker unit will not function. v

It will be understood that the television set is first turned on by means ofthe connection at the 'set ;itself.

The switch 27 controls; the sound in both the speaker in the television set and the speaker in the-coinbined lamp and loudspeaker. This switch does not afiect'the picture in the television set itself. As shown, the current for the light passes through wires 23 and 24 when the switch 28 is closed tothe light 20 itself. V

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, sound will emit from the speaker in the direction of the "arrows from casing 11 and casing 13. In this connection casing 13 is used as a double toned chamber to give the speaker a better sound.

Adjustment of the controlbuttons 29 and 30 are for volume control. Control 29 is for volume control in the lamp speaker while control 30 is for control in the television set speaker itself. Each control works independently of the other and may be used to shut off the sound completely in both speakers, or to leave one on without the other, or to obtain a right balance ofsound between the two to obtain a high fidelity result.

The lamp speaker is so designed as to project the sound at car level which is an obvious aid for'people who are hard of hearing. The construction resulting in the double toned chamber also helps to amplify the sound as above menetioned.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 only one casing 35 is uitilized. Supporting spaces 36 aredisposed within the casing 35 and secured to the socket 37, for the lamp 38. The speaker 39 is secured by means of brackets 40.

The wiring arrangement is the same as that hereinbefore described. In this modification the entire combined lamp and speaker is contained in one unit with very effective results. In each instance both in the preferred arrange- ,ment and in the modification, the switch 27 is utilized to turn the sound on or off in both the speaker in the main television set itself (not shown) and in the speaker 39 in the casing 35. The volume can be controlled through remote control buttons 29 and 3b as described above.

In the modification shown in Fig. there is provided a base 41. Supported on said base is a speaker unit"42 and a lamp 43 individually supported by flexible supports 44 and 45 respectively. The wiring diagram shown in Fig. 3 may be utilized in the modified form shown in Fig. 4. With this modification it will be noted that the lamp and loudspeaker are adjustable with relation to each other with the speaker directed in one direction and the lamp in another, if desired. With this construction the utilization of the lamps ray may be directed to a position somewhat remote from the direction of sound of the speaker, if desired. In this modification the controls 46 and 47 respectively operate for controlling the volume of sound emanating from the speaker 'in the casing and the speaker in the main television switch itself as hereinbefore described. The switches 48 and 49 respectively are for turning the lamp and speakers off and on. J

While I have shown the supports 25,' 44 and45 as a flexible support, it will be understood that any other desirable supporting means may be utilized.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the unit is shown secured to a wall 49. The casings 50 and 51 are provided for the speaker and lamp respectively; The construction within the casings 50 and 51 are substantially the same as portrayed in Fig. 2. Howeveryitwill be noted that the support 52 is in the form of auniversal ball joint. In this modification only one switch 53 and one control 54 are utilized. The switch'53 is foruse in turning a light in a casing on or off and the control .54 is for controlling the volume of the speaker controlling only the volume of the speaker in the casing 50. This form of the present invention is particularly adaptedfor use in restaurants, hospitals, and the like, when only control over the volume adjacent the particular location of the speaker in the casing is desired without afiecting in any way the sound emanating from the speaker in the main television set itself.

It is to be noted that the sound emanating from the speaker 56 and the light emanating from the lamp 55 are directed downwardly to the particular booth or table in a restaurant, or to a hospital bed, and the like.

The wiring diagram for the lamp 55 disposed within the casing 51 and the speaker 56 disposed within the casing 50 is shown in Fig. 7. Appropriate connection for the lamp is made to the outlet through the cable 57 and is controlled by the switch 53. Appropriate connection of the speaker 56-is made to the main television set and the volume of sound emanating from the speaker 56 is controlled through the control 54.

An advantage in having the light combined with the remote speaker is that, if desired, the program may be heard while reading or knitting, etc., without disturbing others.

I'have thus provided a new and novel combined lamp and loudspeaker which may be used with very beneficial results in places of public assembly and the home so that reception of sound is limited, if desired, only to the area surrounding the loudspeaker. The small light-may be utilized which will in no way interfere with other activiand the same wiring arrangement and combination of lamp and loudspeaker.

While the invention'has been described in some detail, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A lamp and loudspeaker unit comprising ashadelike housing, said housing being open at one end, a bracket extending laterally across the interior of said shade-like housing, a lamp socket supported by said bracket intermediate the ends of the latter, said socket being spaced inwardly from the wall of said housing, said socket being received within said housing, a loudspeaker supported by said bracket in spaced relationship to the wall of said housing and received completely Within-said housing, means adjacent opposite ends of said bracket for securingsaid bracket to said housing, said loudspeaker, socket and bracket comprising a unitary structure and being connected by the last named means to opposed portions of said wall and-extending across the interior of said shade-like housing.

2. The combined lamp and loudspeaker unit of claim 1 including a second shade member supportedlby said bracket within the firstmentioned housingin spaced relationship to said'housing, said second shade member being concentrically disposed with respect to said socket and surrounding the latter and projecting forwardly therefrom toward said open end of said housing, said second shade member constituting a light shade for a lamp receivable in said socket.

3. The lamp and loudspeaker of claim 1 including said bracket structure comprising a pair of members extending inwardly 'from the walls of said housing-toward the center thereof, said socket being positioned substantially centrally of the latter two members, said loudspeaker unit being positioned to the rear of said socket and in'alignment therewith and being connected to said membersby References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rosenberg May 16, 1950 St. Omge Apr. 4, 1916 Wales June 6, 1916 '6 Wales Oct. 10, 1916 De Forest Apr. 24, 1923 Wilson Nov. 17, 1925 Wheelan Apr. 10, 1928 Volf Sept. 10, 1929 Laughridge Jan. 19, 1932 Turner June 15, 1937 Matthies -2 June 11, 1940 Crawley Apr. 22, 1941 

